Rack



Patented June 9, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

Ealy T. Stevens, Nashville, Tenn.

Application June 4, 1934, Serial No. 728,987

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to racks for supporting articles of various sizes.

An important object of the invention is to provide a rack which will support, in an orderly manner, articles of gradually varying heights and depths, such as the dies used for cutting the uppers and other portions of shoes and boots.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rack having movable trays from which articles of desired size may be quickly selected and easily removed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rack which will support articles in an efiicient manner, even though the rack is subjected to vibration, as in factories or elsewhere. I A still further object of the invention is to provide racks that are adjustable thereby enabling the user to locate the trays at various elevations in a manner to use as muchas possible of the space within the racks according to the size and character of'the material to be stored.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, andin which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved rack showing the preferred manner of supporting and arranging articles of different sizes.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the rack taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

' Figure l'is aperspective view of atray forming a part of the rack.

In the drawing, where similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, the letter A designates a frame, provided with a rear panel B, and having partitions C, cooperating with the frame A to carry supports D, support and stop means E, and stops F; andG des-v ignates trays supported by the supports D and the support and stop means E, carrying articles H, I, and J in cooperative relation to the stops F.

Referring first to the frame A, it preferably ,oomprises upright end members 5 and 5', and bottom and top cross members 6 and 1 respectively. V

The upright end member 5 is preferably provided near its forward edge with a vertical row of openings 8, and at a short distance from its rear edge with a vertical row of openings 9. Intermediate the rows of openings 8 and 9, a vertical row of openings I0 is provided.

The upright end member '5 is preferably provided near its forward edge with a vertical row of openings 8, similar to. and aligning with the openings 8 in the upright end member 5; .and verticalrows of openings 9' and Hl'in axial alignment with the rows of "openings 9 and I0 respectively of the upright end member 5. The rows of openings 9' and I0 differ in location from the rowsof openings 9 and ID, however, in that the former are located nearer the front of the frame than the latter, as clearly shown in Figure 2;

Although the openings 8, 8, 9, 9', I0, and I0 preferably correspond in number and spacing, the openings 8 and 8, and I0 and I0, arerpreferably located at a slightly higher level than the companion openings 9 and 9 respectively, as shown. 7

As to the rear panel B, it is preferably arranged in oblique relation to the front of the rack. One end of the panel B preferably is secured to the upright end member 5 at a short distance in the rear of the vertical row of openings 9, while the other end of the panel B is preferably secured to the upright end member 5' ,at a'n equal distance in the rear of the vertical row of openings 9. As the vertical row of openings 9' is located nearer-the front of the frame than the vertical row of openings 9, the rear panel B will thus, be arranged in oblique relation to the front of the rack.

The partitions C, in the example shown, are vertically positioned within the frame A. When the rack is intended for use in supporting articles that vary in some dimensions, but are generally of common width, such as the dies used for cutting the uppers and other portions of shoes and boots, the partitions C are preferably spaced equal distances apart.

The partitions C, preferably extend from the front portion of the frame A to the oblique rear panel B, thus providing a series of vertical compartments ll of gradually varying depths, as shown in Figure 2.

The partitions C are provided with vertical rows of openings 8", 9", and I0" aligning with the openings 8, 9, andlD respectively of the up-. right end member 5 and with the openings 8', 9', and I0 respectively of the'upright member 5' thus forming horizontal series of aligning openmgs.

It will be noted that forward horizontal series'of aligning openings 8, 8" and 8' will therefore'be provided in parallelrelation to thefront of the frame, and that rearward horizontal series of aligning openings 9, 9", and 9, and intermediate horizontal series of aligning openings ID, ID, and it will be provided in oblique relation to the front of the frame.

Supports D,"support and stop means E, and stops F may be made from wire of suitable strength and in the example shown are in the form of rods 20, 2|, and 22 respectively, having shank portions 23, 24, and 25 respectively, preferably of lengths toextend the entire distance between the uprights 5 and 5, ,andi hookjpo'rtions 26,21 and 28 respectively; which may be pushed or wedged into the openings in either of 60 prevent the rods from working from the rack due usedin cutting the-uppers and: other portions to vibration. e V Trays G are for the support of articles such as thedies H, I, and J, and may be each struck from apiece of sheet metal or other material and include'sleeve or eye portions for engaging a rod 2| for limiting withdrawal of the trap from the'rack. The trays of course are of 'va rious lengths to conform with the gradually val} a rying depths of the rack and they may project,v

from the rack'and be provided witlrsuit'able' size numbers or other indicia on, the; projecting; pore V tions, as shown. .7

Whenthe rack is employed for holding dies of: shoes and boots, it is preferred that the dies be -arranged in pairs o ne right and one left die of. each size being placed in each compart- 'ment. It is preferred that the, largest diesbe placed in the bottom portion of the rack.

lnl-t he present embodiment of the invention, the 'bottomportion of the rack is employedfor I holding all thesizes-of dies H," they being supported in'a'vertical position on the base 6], in V pairs; and a: rod 22 may be extended through a suitable rearward series oflaligning; openingsg for holdinglthe .dies F inposition for easyewith drawal fromtherack, and toprevent themfrom working orbeing pushed too far back-in;the-rack.

The sizes of the dies are preferably placed- 1 upon portions of the dies which are'ex posed to t viewfwhenthe dies are in positionin the rack.

The bas'eportion 6 of; the, rack may beprovided 5 along its front-or. top surface withthe size num- 7 bers'fof thevarious compartmentsto aid in the withdrawing; and replacingof the diesH;

"By selecting a suitable rearward series of horizontal aligning openings, at a level above the di'e's I-I, for insertion of-arod 21-, and a corresponding. forward s'eriesof horizontal aligning openings for insertion of. a. rodizll, trays G, may. be. supported above'the; dies H, it being understood that the sl'ee've oreyeportions 30 of the trays. G engage the rod Ztfandthat trays} of.

suitable lengths are provided for the. varying,

depths of the compartments. Aslftl'ie' horizontal aligning openings in-therear portion of the rack.

T are at a slightly lower level than their. corre-l sponding openings in the front of the.rack, .the trays will'be supported in a rearwardlyslbpingi V 'manner.

"'Upon-the'trays G,it is preferred, whenthe rack isv employed for storingof dies usedin cuttingthe uppers andother portions ofj shoesand.

boots, to place all sizes -of diesL. A rod 22 may be extended thru a suitablefrearward series of horizontal aligning openings for holding the dies inip lace. with their forward portionsin substane an alignment with the front of the rack, and'to prevent. the dies from working too far back "in thefcompartments due to the rearwardfslope of the trays G. The projectingv portions of the traysniay carry-suitable size numbers to aid in withdrawing' andreplacing' the proper sizes of dies; The projecting portions of; the traysform handles whereby the trays may 'be'pulled'f-out a limiteddistance to facilitate the withdrawal and replacementjof. the desired dies. ,The Weight of 7,0,

the dies upon the trays G, will tendto prevent the rods from working' o ut. of. the rack.

r Another series of trays G maybe employed 7 above; the, dies Ifor carrying. all sizes of the rela tively sm'all dies'J. In order to prevent the dies the upright end members 5 or 5' as desired, to

J from working or being pushed too far back in the rack, it is preferred to employ a rod 22 extending through an intermediate series of horizontal aligning openings at a level above the tray thereby maintaining. the, small dies. in ap proximately the same relation to the front of the rack' as thelarger dies supported by a rod 22 in ,the rearward series of horizontal aligning openings. V i

The rear panel B may be used for a back-stop 10 insteadof the. rods 22 when the rack is employed for supporting'extra large dies or other articles-r Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of l isprovided, rods-extending through predetermined series of axially aligning openings, and;

trays. carried by-the rods. for supporting articles of gradually varying sizes. r

, a, rack,,a. plurality of spaced apartup right'members having vertical rows of axially- 30.

aligning openings, a rearpanel arranged in oblique relation to the frontxof the-rackwhereby; apseries. of compartments of. gradually varying;

depth is provided, rods horizontally extending;

throughpredetermined series'of axially aligning 35-- v V openings, and trays'carriedbythe'rodsfor supi,

portingarticlesof gradually varying. sizes 3.11; a. rack, a. frame including,end.;mem:-; bers having rows offopenings,thereim arpluralityl of spaced apart partitions. carriedzby the frame 40 V x and having rows of openings. axially aligning withthe openingsin the endmembers of the frame, a rear panel arrangedfiinoblique relation. to the front of the, frame wherebyv a series; of

compartments of graduallgvarying depth-ispror- 45 vided, rods. extending through predetermined series of axially aligning: openingsin the-pantie tionsand end members; and trays calfriedrby the rods for supporting articles of. gradually. V

V i 50, '4, In"aprack, a frame. including end= members} varying. sizes. 7

having rows of openings therein a plurality.- of. spaced apart vertical partitions carriedby the frame and having, vertical rows. of openings.- axeially aligning withthe, openings.ingthe-endamemrx 5 bers of theframe a; rear panel arranged: in obliquerelation. to [the front, of the frame. where- 'by a seriesofverticalcompartments of-gradually varying. depth is provided, rods horizontally extending throughgpredetermined series of. axially,

aligning openings in the partitions and/end members, and trays carried by the rodsjfor' sup.-

. porting articles of gradually varying sizes.v J r 5. In a rack for articles of, gradually varying sizes, such. as the dies used for cutting the uppers, 1

and other portions of. bootsand shoes, thecombination' with a plurality of upright; supporting, members, of rods horizontallycarriedby. therup right supporting members in oblique relation; to

eachother, anditrays' transversely; supported by, Q.

the rods, said. trays beingof lengths. varying, similar tothevarying distancesbetween therods at the. several tray locations. 7

V 'r.',sTEvENs;. V 

